Anina
How many different kinds of nurses are there, and which ones are the best? Which ones require the most education?
Hi! My name is Anina and I'm a high school senior interning at Career Village. I recently shadowed a nursing department, and learned that not every nurse was the same. I didn't really understand most of the acronyms they were using, but I got the impression that there were many different kinds of nurses. What kinds are there, and what are the differences, drawback, and benefits to each kind? Which one should an aspiring nurse aim for? #medicine #nursing #nurse
2 answers
Richard W Easterling, MSN, BS, RN
Richard W’s Answer
Jared Buescher
Jared’s Answer
There are soooooooo many different kinds of nurses. To be an RN (Registered Nurse), as in one of the nurses you shadowed, you must attend 4 years of college. That includes 2 years of prerequisite classes consisting of Biology, Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, etc, and 2 years of nursing school. Some people get other four-year (Bachelor) degrees and attend what is called an Accelerated Nursing Program that fits two years of nursing school into 14 months AFTER you attain the other Bachelor degree.
As far as RN's go, it is not so much that there are many different RN's as there are RN's that work in many different departments and, as a result, receive very different training. There is not necessarily more schooling, but there are different certifications one may attain and different experience one can get. An RN may work on a Medical/Surgical floor, Cardiology, Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Room, Operating Room, and many other areas. They are all trained differently on the job, but receive the same schooling prior to starting their job. If i listed all the pro's and con's of all of them this post would be way too long so if you would like to know more, then ask further and I or someone else may answer.
As far as "other nurses," go, there are Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA), Nurse Practitioners (NP's), Dialysis Nurses, and others. They all require very different schools/training courses, and again if you want to know specifics, do not hesitate to ask again under this category or send me a message. They all have many benefits and drawbacks. I know this is not very specific but in order to be specific, this post would be incredibly long. Please let me know if you have any further questions and good luck!